Daily Play Hype #27: East Bay Funk

I have to voice this complaint about Shaq.  I know all the Kobe haters out there are loving this as the ultimate "in your face."  What i just can't understand is why no one wants to acknowledge what an immature and hypocritical jerk Shaq is.  It seems that just cause Shaq jokes around a lot and gives funny quotes to reporters that everyone is willing to ignore that he's arrogant and lazy.  Shaq was just as much to blame for that LA mess.  Inexplicably though, people want to gloss over the fact that he was asking for a max extension when his contract still had 2-3 years on it.  This from someone who hadn't worked on improving his game, staying in shape or even hitting at least 60% of his ft's for years.  But he could drop 30 lbs. as an act of vengeance when he didn't get his way.  As demonstrated these past 2 seasons in Miami and even from this playoffs, he wasn't worth the money.  If he really cared about winning and "team", he wouldn't have been asking for more $$ (as if he wasn't already set for life) and instead he could've let LA use that money to get help they clearly needed.  He's an egomaniac and no one seems to mind cause he is so "likable."  Now he's doing all the things he wouldn't do with Kobe with Wade.  WHY?  Cause Wade kisses his butt and tells him and everyone else how great he is.  Yeah, Shaq's all about team and hard work as long as people do it his way and stroke his ego while they're doing it.  NICE.